Multiple bobbin winding apparatus for yarn and the like



Jan. 30, 1962 D. A. E. MATTINGLY l-TIAL 3,0 7

' MULTIPLE BOBBIN WINDING APPARATUS FOR YARN AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 18,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mr v 417174:

D. A. E. MATTINGLY EI'AL MULTIPLE BOBBIN WINDING APPARATUS FOR YARN ANDTHE LIKE Jan. 30, 1962 Filed Feb. 18, 1960 N \v m@ W V "1% Q m a 9 3 QNm6 v &

United States Patent i 3,018,974 MULTIPLE BOBBIN WINDING APPARATUS FORYARN AND THE LIKE Denis Albert Edward Mattingly and ReginaldSelbyGrlchrist, London, England, assignors to The Klmger ManufacturingCompany Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Feb. 18, 1960,Ser. No. 9,600 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 5, 1959 6Claims. (Cl. 242-35.5)

This invention relates to multiple bobbin winding apparatus for yarnsand like continuous threads and filament (hereinafter referred to asyarn). The term bobbin is intended to include cops and spools and thelike having rotatable spindles or cores with or without end retainingflanges. The apparatus is of the kind in which a number of bobbinsarranged with their axes of rotation extending in the same directionsubstantially parallel or coaxial with one another, means for simultaneously rotating the bobbins about their axes, an element extendingacross all the bobbins and reciprocable in the direction of said axesand carrying an engaging and traversing device opposite each bobbin sothat the yarn may be laid evenly on the bobbin and means for impartingreciprocable movement to said element so that during one stroke of thereciprocation the yarn is wound in a helix of comparatively large pitchof one hand whereas during the return stroke the yarn is wound in ahelix of a similar pitch but opposite handed to the first helix. Bythese means the yarn is self sustaining on the bobbin without theassistance of end flanges.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above kindin which the yarn is laid evenly along the length of the bobbin and thisnecessitates each yarn engaging and traversing device being moved alongthe bobbin in each direction at a uniform velocity with an instantaneouschange in direction at the opposite ends of the reciprocation otherwisethe yarn tends to build up at the ends of the bobbin. This form ofmotion is hereinafter referred to as constant velocity reciprocation.Such instantaneous changes in direction of movement present considerableproblems of inertial effects which the pres ent invention goes a longway to solve.

According to this invention a multiple bobbin winding apparatus of thekind referred to is characterised in that means for imparting constantvelocity reciprocation to the element carrying the yarn engaging andtraversing devices is so applied to that element that for each stroke ofthe reciprocation the element is subjected to tension enabling theweight of the element to be reduced to a minimum without risk ofbuckling from compressive forces.

In one embodiment of the invention said flexible element may comprise alight stranded metal cable for example formed from steel.

In that case carriers between the yarn engaging and traversing devicesmay comprise guides formed from wear resisting material such as nylon ortungsten carbide.

The passage through each guide may be bell mouthed at opposite ends. Thecentral part of the guide may be a good sliding fit on the cable.Alternatively the carriers may comprise rollers with circumferentialgrooves through which the cable extends. Two such rollers may beprovided at each supporting location, one above and the other below thecable.

in an alternative embodiment the flexible element may comprise a thintape or band. The tape or band may be formed from steel. in such anarrangement the guides between the yarn traversing and engaging devicesmay comprise suitably shaped slots through which the band extends.

The aforesaid cable or band may comprise two stretches fifll fiidPatented Jan. 30, 1962 which extend between and are attached to leversat the ends of said machine. Such an arrangement is particularlyapplicable to an apparatus where there are spaced rows of bobbins sothat a stretch of the cable or band extends across the bobbins in eachrow.

Means may be provided for applying tension to said cable or band so asto maintain it taut.

Each said yarn engaging and traversing device in either embodiment maycomprise a part secured to the flexible element and having a grooveformed in it for accommodating said yarn whilst permitting itslongitudinal movement in the groove. Each yarn engaging and traversingdevice may also be formed from wear resisting material. For example itmay be formed from steel.

In the case of a yarn engaging and traversing device for use with acable it may comprise a part which is circular in cross-section and itsdiameter may diminish as it extends towards its ends and the centreportion may be provided with a circumferential groove for accommodatingthe yarn. With this arrangement any rotational movement of the cable isquite inconsequential and should the yarn be disposed to one side of theblock the tension in the yarn will tend to move it along the block untilit automatically snaps into the groove. Preferably the block on eitherside of the groove is substantially conical.

In the case of a band or tape since there is little tendency forrotational movement thereof the yarn engaging and traversing device maycomprise a substantially triangular plate extending along and secured tothe band or tape so as to project from one side thereof and provided atits apex with a niche for receiving the yarn.

As previously indicated any known means may be provided for impartingthe required constant velocity reciprocable movement to the cable orband providing the latter is always subjected to tension for exampleoscillatory movement may be imparted to one of the levers to which thecable or band is attached at one end of the rows of bobbins. For thispurpose the lever may be provided with a cam follower which engages theperiphery of a heart shaped cam which is rotated about an axis parallelwith the axis of rotation of the lever the throw of the cam beingselected in accordance with the required extent of reciprocation of theyarn engaging and traversing devices.

Alternatively there may be connected to one of the stretches of saidcable, band or tape a cam follower which engages a groove in theperiphery of a cam rotatable about an axis transverse to the axis ofrotation of said lever, the plane in which said groove lies beinginclined to the axis of rotation of the cam.

In either arrangement the shape of the cam is such that the velocityimparted to yarn engaging and tranvers ing devices in both directions isconstant and there is instantaneous change in direction of theirmovements at the ends of the paths of movement.

In the case where the linear speed of winding of the yarn is about 300feet per minute the rate of reciprocation is reciprocations per minutefor a bobbin which is about 5 inches long.

The above arrangement is particularly suitable for an apparatus forfalse twisting a number of yarns simultaneously and in which at thebottom of the machine are mounted two rows of upright bobbins spacedapart along the length of the machine and from which the yarn is drawnupwardly through tensioning and twist controlling means and then throughheating apparatus whereafter The following is a description of the upperpart of a false twisting apparatus embodying the present invention forwinding the false twisted yarn on take-up bobbins, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the top part of the falsetwisting apparatus showing the wind ing bobbins and yarn traversingmechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section through one of the guides for a cablecarrying the yarn engaging and traversing device;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view to FIGURE 2 of an alternative guide;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a yarn traversing device embodying ametal band instead of a cable for the yarn traversing devices;

FIGURE 5 is an elevation of a yarn engaging traversing device for usewith the metal band;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section through the device shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 shows alternative means for imparting reciprocatory movement toa cable or band carrying said yarn traversing devices; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view in elevation of the yarn engaging andtraversing device shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the yarns 10 extend upwardly from the falsetwisting apparatus and are wound up on bobbins 11 mounted at the top ofthe apparatus. A number of spinning heads are arranged side by sidealong the width of the apparatus and likewise a number of bobbins arearranged side by side along the width of the machine. The bobbinspindles (which are hidden to view in the drawing) are arranged toengage channels 12 in bracket arms 13 fixed to supporting rods 14 whichextend across the width of the machine. The wound yarn on each bobbinrests in known manner on a cork faced roller 16 fixed to a driving shaft17 which also extends across the width of the machine, which shafts aredriven through a chain and sprocket transmission 74 from a motor drivengear box 75. Thus as the yarn on the bobbins builds up, the bobbinspindles move along the channels 12 of the bracket arms in known manner.In order to lay the yarns evenly backwards and forwards across thewidths of the bobbins each yarn or pair of yarns which have beengathered together from a spinning head is arranged to pass over a yarnengaging and traversing device 19. The yarn engaging and traversingdevices are fixed to a stranded cable which extends substantiallyparallel with the axes of rotation of the bobbins and close to thoseparts of the cork faced rollers which engage the bobbins. The inventionis concerned with the means for imparting reciprocatory movement to theyarn engaging and traversing devices 19 so that an immediate reversal ofmovement is obtained at each limit of the width of the bobbin. The yarnengaging and traversing devices 19 for this purpose are fixed to thestranded cable 20 which extends across the whole width of the machine.

The machine may be provided with two banks of bobbins 11 one above theother, each bank of bobbins being driven by a separate set of cork facedrollers. Thus two stranded cables carrying the yarn engaging andtraversing devices are required which are spaced apart in an up and downdirection.

Two two cables 20 at one end are fixed to opposite ends of a lever 21having a groove around its outer surfaces and shown to the left ofFIGURE 1. The lever 21 is fixed to a spindle 22 mounted in a bearing(not shown) fixed to a part 9 of the frame of the apparatus. The leverhas rotatably mounted upon it a cam follower in the form of a roller 23which engages the periphery of a heart shaped cam 24. The cam is fixedto a spindle 25 which is driven through gearing 26 one element of whichis fixed to a spindle 73 driven through the chain and sprockettransmission 74 from the motor driven gear box 75.

In order to maintain the cam follower in engagement with the peripheryof the cam there is secured to the lever 21 or to a lever fixed to thespindle 22 one end of a tension spring 34 the other end of which isfixed to a fixed part of the apparatus. By this means the lever 21 isoscillated imparting reciprocatory movement to the aforesaid cables 20*and the cam 24 is so shaped that there is immediate reversal of themovement of the cables 20 whilst maintaining a constant velocity oftraverse of the yarn engaging and traversing devices 19.

The yarn engaging and traversing devices 19 are circular incross-section and are formed with a centrally disposed circumferentialgroove 65 and the diameter of the traversing device diminishes as itextends away from each side of the groove until it has substantially thesame diameter as the cable. Thus should the yarn escape from the groovein the yarn engaging and traversing device it is automatically broughtback again by the reciprocation of the cable and is self loading at thecommencement of operation. Since the cable is of considerable length inextending from one end of the apparatus to the other it requires to beguided, for which purpose there are provided a number of nylon guidetubes 66 (see FIGURE 2) fixed to arms 27 secured to fixed supporting rod23 which extends along the length of the machine and which is providedfor supporting various yarn guides in known manner such as the guides 8.

The guide tubes 66 for the cables may be hell mouthed at each endthereof as indicated at 69 in FIGURE 2.

At the opposite end of the machine to the lever 21 which is oscillatedby said cam is a second and similar lever 30 which is an idler lever andis fixed on a spindle 31. The ends of the cables 20 are fixed to thelever 36 by tensioning devices 32 in the form of anchorages secured tothe lever by adjusting screws 33.

An arm 70 is fixed to the spindle and disposed between stops 71adjustably mounted in fixed carriers 72, so as to cancel the inertiaeffect of the lever 30 and cables and ensures that the cam followerremains in contact with the cam at the peak of its heart shape wherethere is a change in direction of movement of the follower and cables.

In place of a nylon tube forming the guide for the cable there may beprovided a mounting for two rollers 58, the peripheries of which areshaped for engaging the cable and which rollers are mounted in a carrier59 fixed to the arm 27 secured to the aforesaid rod 28.

Instead of the yarn traversing devices being fixed to a stranded cablethey may be secured to a metal band 35 (see FIGURE 4) which is fixed tothe plain surfaces of two levers 36 and 37 at opposite ends of theapparatus and which are oscillated in a similar manner to that describedabove. The guides for this band comprise U- shaped nylon elements 38secured to the end of an arm 27 fixed to the aforesaid fixed supportingrod 28. The limbs of the U may be engaged by a screw which forms a keep39 for preventing the band 35 from escaping from between the limbs. Theyarn engaging and traversing devices may each comprise a metal clip (seeFIGURES 5 and 6) having a portion 40 which extends across the width ofthe band and having at one end a hook portion 41 for engaging theunderside of the band whereas the other end is provided with two hookedportions 42 spaced apart and having a central portion 43 inclinedupwardly over the top of the band and provided with a niche 44 forreceiving the yarn. Top edges of this latter portion are inclineddownwardly at 45 towards the band so as to provide ramps on which theyarn may ride into the niche.

In an alternative arrangement as shown in FIGURE 7 for impartingreciprocatory movement to the band or a cable there may be provided acam 50, the peripheral edge of which is provided with a groove 51 lyingin a plane inclined to axis of rotation which is engaged by a followerS2 fixed to a rod 53 reciprocable in bearings 54, one end of the rodbeyond one of the bearings has secured to it a cable 55 connected to alever 21 mounted on a spindle 22 oscillatable in bearings (not shown) ona fixed part of the apparatus, the other end of the rod has secured toit one end of the aforesaid cable or band 56, the other end of the cableor band is secured to a lever 30. Another stretch of cable or band 57 issecured between the two levers 21 and 30 in a similar manner to thatdescribed in FIGURE 1.

We claim:

1. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus for yarns comprising anassemblage of rotatably and coaxially mounted bobbins, a transmissionfor simultaneously rotating said bobbins, a single oscillating leverpivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the apparatus at each end ofsaid assemblage of bobbins to oscillate about an axis transverse to theaxis of rotation of the bobbins, flexible incxtensible stretches ofmaterial positively and directly connected to each lever on the oppositesides of the axis of rotation thereof, a number of yarn guides fixed toand spaced apart along said stretches at distances corresponding to thespacing of said bobbins, and means imparting oscillatory movementdirectly to one of said levers to an extent corresponding to the axialwidth required for each wound bobbin.

2. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidstretches comprise two separate lengths of flexible material eachpositively connected at opposite ends to the two levers.

3. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidstretches comprise two separate lengths of flexible material each havingpositive connections at opposite ends attaching it to the two levers atleast one of which positive connections is adjustable for tensioningsaid stretches.

4. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidstretches comprise two separate lengths of flexible material eachpositively connected at opposite ends to the two levers, and whereineach said lever has arcuate portions to each of which one of saidstretches is connected at one end of the are.

5. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus for yarns according to claim 1wherein the means for imparting oscillatory movement to said leverscomprise a heart-shaped cam mounted to rotate about an axis parallel tothat of the levers, a cam follower on one of said levers in engagementwith said cam, and means for continuously rotating said cam, whichheart-shaped cam is so proportioned to apply constant and equalvelocities in opposite directions.

6. A multiple bobbin winding apparatus for yarns according to claim 1wherein the transmission for driving said bobbins comprises a number offriction rollers one for each bobbin and fixed to a driving shaft so asto engage the exposed surface of the wound yarn which transmission isadapted to drive said friction rollers at a constant speed and whereinthe means for imparting oscillatory movement to said levers is drivenfrom a part of the transmission which drives said friction rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,528,426 Holt Mar. 3, 1925

